10 MLB Opening Day Losers Who are Really Winners and Why

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Not every team can win on MLB Opening Day; that much is obvious. However, even the the teams that lost can see little tidbits of winning within a decent loss. What will follow through this slideshow are examples of 10 MLB teams that lost on opening day but really are winners and why. Winning and losing on Opening Day isn't nearly as important as we make it out to be. How the game is played actually is bigger on day one.

10 – Arizona Diamondbacks

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10 – Arizona Diamondbacks

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The Dbacks lost to the Giants in a slug fest but that is not a bad thing. Everyone knows their pitching staff is a little hurt right now but for the most part the pitching will be okay if not very good. What matters is the offense which is supposed to be improved. It was much improved on Opening Day as they put up several runs against the Giants. Most importantly, Mark Trumbo had a huge game.

9 – Boston Red Sox

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9 – Boston Red Sox

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Even the World Series champions can't win every game. What is most important after their Opening Day loss to the Baltimore Orioles is that they played a very good game and looked basically a lot like the champs looked last year. Chances are their offense will improve as the season stretches onward because of the youngsters getting more time. Who could forget what Grady Sizemore brought to this team on day one as well? It was a good day.

8 – Chicago Cubs

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8 – Chicago Cubs

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One thing that everyone needs to remember is that the Pittsburgh Pirates are a good team. In fact they might have as good of a chance as the Cardinals in winning the N.L. Central. Despite that fact the Cubs and Jeff Samardzija hung right in there with the Pirates and only lost 1 – 0 on a walk-off home run in the 10th. Don't let the dramatic way the game ended overshadow the great game played by the Cubs.

7 – New York Mets

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7 – New York Mets

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Many think that the Washington Nationals will walk off with the N.L. East this season but the Mets served notice that they just might not have it that easy after all. Here is a Mets team that did not get a hit from Curtis Granderson on Opening Day but still put up 7 runs total against the supposed best pitching staff in the National League. If I'm the Mets, I feel really good about that start.

6 – Los Angeles Angels

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6 – Los Angeles Angels

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First of all this game was very close until the end of it so that is a key to remember. Also, even though the Angels lost they got a huge load of good signs from their offense. Mainly they got a good game from Josh Hamilton, Mike Trout and Albert Pujols. If they keep those guys running at full steam ahead, they will be in the mix at the end of the year.

5 – Texas Rangers

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5 – Texas Rangers

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Okay so the Rangers are banged up quite a bit but remember what the issue is coming into the season. If Yu Darvish was fully healthy now like he should be for most of the season, they would have creamed the Philadelphia Phillies on Opening Day. Their offense which many worry about not only scored runs but kept fighting back for the entire game. All is not lost as Josh Wilson started at second was 2 for 3 with 3 RBI.

4 – Oakland Athletics

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4 – Oakland Athletics

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Sonny Gray pitched very well as did everyone else for the A's on Opening Day. Every game with a scrapping team like the Indians is going to look like this 4 out of 5 times. Importantly the A's were in the game throughout, pitched very well and showed signs of being the same kind of team they were each of the last two pennant-winning seasons.

3 – Kansas City Royals

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3 – Kansas City Royals

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Nobody likes a late comeback loss on Opening Day. Even though the Royals allowed a lead to slip by late in the game, we all know that is not likely to happen all that often. With that in mind, this game against the Detroit Tigers was surprising in that the Tigers felt like the underdog all game long. The impression was that the Royals looked like and played like the better team for the majority of the game. That should be watched going forward.

2 – Atlanta Braves

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2 – Atlanta Braves

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In case you did not know this, the Braves cannot score in Milwaukee. For the last couple of years they just cannot win and cannot score there for some reason. What is important in this loss is that Opening Day starter Julio Teheran served notice that he is going to be just fine carrying this pitching staff this season. On 9 of 10 days, giving up a couple of runs will win him a baseball game. The Braves should be fine.

1 – Cincinnati Reds

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1 – Cincinnati Reds

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The team that looked the best in defeat was the Reds. They were facing a man who might be the favorite at this point to win the NL Cy Young award in Adam Wainwright and matched him frame for frame. Johnny Cueto appeared to be fully back and just as good as Waino. This team has to score some runs but they probably would have fared a little better against a lesser pitcher. The Cardinals won't be running away with this division in 2014.